Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sundsvall

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $1,696 in Sundsvall, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Sundsvall
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,696
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Sundsvall

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Sundsvall actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $1,696 in Sundsvall.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Sundsvall $1,696

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $2,576 in Sundsvall.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Sundsvall $2,576

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $3,455 in Sundsvall.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Sundsvall $3,455

Living in Phuket costs roughly 29% less than in Sundsvall, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Sundsvall is 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$14.86 SEK 147
-69.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$79.8 SEK 790
-59.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$10.94 SEK 108
-21.85%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$4.72 SEK 46.78
-42.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$2.44 SEK 24.18
-61.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$1.84 SEK 18.22
-73.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$8.43 SEK 83.5
-69.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$7.67 SEK 76.0
-50.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$1.45 SEK 14.37
20.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$2.94 SEK 29.12
-51.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$3.56 SEK 35.28
-57.02%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$3.25 SEK 32.23
-33.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$9.42 SEK 93.4
103.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$9.62 SEK 95.4
-65.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$17.05 SEK 169
-34.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$2.73 SEK 27.05
8.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$2.25 SEK 22.25
-25.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$2.39 SEK 23.69
-3.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$3.86 SEK 38.29
-44.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$1.43 SEK 14.17
6.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$1.34 SEK 13.28
1.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$1.80 SEK 17.85
-37.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.92 SEK 9.09
-40.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$7.25 SEK 71.8
-41.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$8.76 SEK 86.8
107.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$1.66 SEK 16.43
4.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$1.30 SEK 12.91
114.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$3.30 SEK 32.74
-32.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
$85.1 SEK 843
-74.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$5.82 SEK 57.7
-50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$6.09 SEK 60.4
-83.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$1.75 SEK 17.32
-14.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$30.7K SEK 304.4K
-13.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$30.1K SEK 298.6K
-11.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$101 SEK 1,002
-1.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$28.07 SEK 278
-59.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$36.21 SEK 359
-52.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$40.52 SEK 401
29.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
$15.65 SEK 155
-30.67%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$13.93 SEK 138
-45.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$134 SEK 1,332
315.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$92.4 SEK 916
-31.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$19.51 SEK 193
46.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$66.2 SEK 656
45.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$121 SEK 1,203
-27.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$662 SEK 6,564
10.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$602 SEK 5,962
-23.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$1,171 SEK 11.6K
78.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$858 SEK 8,498
42.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$2,349 SEK 23.3K
47.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$1,660 SEK 16.4K
49.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$3,017 SEK 29.9K
-83.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.88
43.56%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Sundsvall: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Sundsvall
$602 30.8% $142
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Sundsvall
$308 15.2% $41
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Sundsvall
$165 29.2% $37
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Sundsvall
$135 8.7% $11
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Sundsvall
$283 133% $162
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Sundsvall
$68 1.4% $1
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Sundsvall
$135 246% $96

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $662 in Sundsvall. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sundsvall pays 512% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $80.0 in Sundsvall for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $308 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇸🇪 Sundsvall
🕒 Local time
15:41 3:41 PM
10:41 10:41 AM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
57,606
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Sundsvall 8,770 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Sundsvall

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Phuket vs Sundsvall: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sundsvall cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sundsvall?
On paper, salaries run 512% lower in Sundsvall. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sundsvall?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $662 in Sundsvall. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $558 in Phuket versus $134 in Sundsvall. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Sundsvall?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Sundsvall. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Sundsvall?
At $1,207 in Phuket versus $1,696 in Sundsvall, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Sundsvall. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sundsvall more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sundsvall, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Sundsvall?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sundsvall are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Sundsvall. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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